Raid on Charles Town

The Raid on Charles Town, also known as the Spanish raid on New Providence, occurred on 19 January 1684 (Old Style) when a Spanish naval expedition led by Cuban corsair Juan de Alarcón attacked the English privateering stronghold of Charles Town (later Nassau), capital of the Bahamas. The attack was in response to Governor Robert Clarke's encouragement of privateering against Spanish ships, which violated treaties between England and Spain.

Alarcón arrived with 200 men on two barcos luengos and captured a British sloop to navigate through the eastern channel. His forces landed near Charles Town early in the morning, surprising the settlement and capturing Governor Clarke, who was later tortured and killed by the Spanish. The town's inhabitants, including approximately 400 armed men, 200 women, children, and slaves, were unable to mount an effective defense. Many fled or were taken captive, while some ships managed to escape.

The raid resulted in the destruction of Charles Town's buildings and defenses, with the Spanish carrying off Governor Clarke, other inhabitants, and numerous residents to Havana. The Bahamas remained depopulated until December 1686, when a small contingent from Jamaica reoccupied the area under Governor Thomas Bridges.